Upon
departure this Monday morning, SaSea Sally traveled the Glebe River then
crossed the mouth of the Potomac, curled around Point Lookout and continued up
the Chesapeake Bay towards Solomons, MD. As we enterd the mouth of the Patuxent
River, Captain Clay spied Tumbleweed on the AIS also traveling the direction of Solomons
Island. Oooooo, friends ahead! Having secured reservations at Spring Cove
Marina, we quickly cancelled those in favor of Tumbleweed's destination of
Solomons Yachting Center and a rendezvous with our friends Floyd and Linda, and
of course their three-year-old labradoodle Dakota! Solomons Yachting Center
wasn't a five-star in my books, but friendship outweighs stars anytime! We
quickly planned a mini pool party after convincing the dock master that, if the
pool passed the health inspection just that morning, then it surely means now
open for the season. He hesitatingly but willingly unlocked the padlock and
ushered us in for a chilly first dip.
Tuesday
morning Clay and I embarked on our morning walk thankful for knowledge of the
area and a memory of one of my favorite routes down the boardwalk along the
spine of this island and circling around the triangle at the southernmost tip.
Later morning, having discovered something amiss with the 15 hp dinghy motor,
Clay secured the services of motor mechanic Sam and monitored Sam's progress
while I swam laps in the small, rectangular pool where we'd enjoyed partying
the past evening. Interspersed during the day were a number of housekeeping
tasks which I like to consider routine but are more catch-as-catch-can aboard
(bill-paying, laundry, sweeping, reorganizing, etc). We ended the evening with
dinner at CD's Cafe with Floyd and Linda (Tumbleweed) and Ron and Beverly (Sea
Venture) who accommodated our tardiness (Sam, you see) with a necessary wait
time in the lounge; we quickly caught up (both on wine/beer and conversation).
CD's Cafe came highly recommended, advertised as offering southern Maryland's
most creative cuisine; we heartily agreed.
With
Sam on the agenda early Wednesday, I enjoyed a rare solo walk down the now
familiar spine while Clay awaited Sam's arrival. Later, we found plenty to do
to 'kill' the day after Sam diagnosed need for a new carburetor to be
overnighted and installed Thursday. My apprehension of not having anything to
do aboard was ill-placed as there always seems to be more than I can
successfully accomplish in a day.
We
awakened Thursday to a rainy, chilly day, the ugliness of which put a damper on
any optimism we might have had. Must have affected Sam in the same way; he was
a no-show (maybe the overnighted carburetor was delayed). Nonetheless, we bid
our Tumbleweed friends goodbye, promising to catch-up in Baltimore, and carried
on with some investment activities to fill our day. Toward evening the rain
tapered to a spritz which encouraged us to shower and dress warmly (jeans and a
sweater for me and the layered-look for Clay) then hoof it to 
CD's Cafe; not
only did we enjoy the creative cuisine on our previous visit, but the distance
was 'affordable' in the misting chill. Both Clay and I chose fish dishes with
me feasting on a mahi special while Clay enjoyed the seafood pasta. Yum! And, I
didn't have to do the dishes!
Sun!
So welcomed this Friday morning as was Sam! Once again I walked solo while Clay
and Sam worked together to install the 15 hp's new 
carburetor and to reposition
the dinghy aboard so we could accommodate our departure Baltimore bound. After
a quick breakfast and a move to the fuel dock for fuel and a pumpout, we left
port and faced thirty-knot winds which turned SaSea into a bucking broncho as
she endured bow wave after bow wave on the Bay. I had planned to do some blog
typing, but the boat's motion had my tablet angle repeatedly flattening out
which made for a poor workspace...not gonna happen today!
carburetor and to reposition
the dinghy aboard so we could accommodate our departure Baltimore bound. After
a quick breakfast and a move to the fuel dock for fuel and a pumpout, we left
port and faced thirty-knot winds which turned SaSea into a bucking broncho as
she endured bow wave after bow wave on the Bay. I had planned to do some blog
typing, but the boat's motion had my tablet angle repeatedly flattening out
which made for a poor workspace...not gonna happen today!
After we approached the Bay Bridge from mainland Maryland to the Eastern Shore of Maryland the wind began to pick up, blowing 15-20. Clay
found a little hidey-hole near Dobbins Island on the Magothy River to tuck away
for the overnight this Friday night. We dropped anchor to enjoy the evening
sunset and the overnight at 'sea.' Tomorrow we will cruise on into Baltimore
for the unknown adventures which lie ahead. Wish us well! Baltimore doesn't
have the best of reputations of late!
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